Rockwall, Potts Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockwall |
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Rockwall_in_Potts_Point.jpg) |
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| Location | 7 Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1831–1837 |
| Architect | John Verge |
| Architectural style(s) | Colonial Regency |
| Official name: Rockwall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 20 |
| Type | Villa |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Rockwall is a historic house in Potts Point, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was designed by the famous architect John Verge and built between 1831 and 1837. This beautiful building is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of the state's history and should be protected. Rockwall has been a home, a school, and even a hotel over the years.
A Look Back: Rockwall's Story
How Potts Point Became a Fancy Place
In the 1830s, the area we now call Potts Point, Kings Cross, and up to Oxford Street was known as Darlinghurst. It was likely named after Governor Ralph Darling's wife, Eliza. This area was a rocky hill called Woolloomooloo Hill.
Back then, Sydney was getting very crowded. Governor Darling wanted to create nicer living areas for important citizens. So, in 1828, he decided to divide Woolloomooloo Hill into large blocks of land. These blocks were given to select members of society, especially his senior government workers.
Governor Darling's "Villa Rules"
Governor Darling had special "villa conditions" for these new homes. His wife, Eliza, who was good at architecture, might have helped with these rules. The rules made sure:
- Only one large house (a villa) was built on each piece of land.
- The houses were built to a high standard.
- Each house had a large, beautiful garden.
- Most houses faced the town, creating a lovely view from Sydney Harbour.
By the mid-1830s, many white villas stood proudly on Woolloomooloo Hill. They looked amazing from the harbour and the town.
John Busby and the Start of Rockwall
The first person to get a large piece of land where Rockwall now stands was John Busby. He was a civil engineer who helped find new water sources for the colony. He's famous for building "Busby's Bore", a tunnel that brought fresh water into Sydney.
John Busby received his land grant in 1828. In 1830, architect John Verge started drawing plans for Busby's house, Rockwall. However, Busby faced money problems and had to sell his land.
Rockwall's First Owners and Changes
In 1835, a new owner named Hamilton Collins Sempill bought the property. John Verge then changed his plans for Rockwall to suit Sempill. Verge oversaw the building work until it was finished in 1837.
An old painting from around 1840 shows Rockwall with huge gardens. It had a circular driveway, lots of shrubs, and tall Norfolk Island pines. These trees were a symbol of grand homes in Sydney.
Rockwall is one of the oldest buildings designed by John Verge that is still standing. It's also one of only five original villas left in Potts Point. Many other grand houses were pulled down in the 1920s and 1930s to make way for new buildings.
In 1836, Rockwall was sold to Thomas Urmson Ryder. He asked Verge to add verandahs and a garden house. Ryder then sold Rockwall in 1837 to Arthur Little, whose daughter lived there until 1872.
Rockwall as a School and Hotel
Over the years, Rockwall had different uses:
- It was a girls' school called Belmore College from about 1873 to 1884.
- It became another girls' school, Ailanthus College, from 1904 to 1913.
- After that, it returned to being a private home.
In 1914, Dr. Herbert Russell Nolan, a doctor who performed the first appendicectomy in Australia, bought the house. Later, from 1925 to 1957, a group called the Nurses' Club Ltd. owned Rockwall. They made many changes and additions to the house.
In 1957, Rockwall was turned into the Rockwall Private Hotel. More big changes happened, like new windows and doors. It later became part of larger hotels. By the 1960s, the house was in very bad condition.
Restoring a Piece of History
Luckily, Rockwall was saved! In the 1990s, it was carefully restored. The National Trust of Australia (NSW) officially recognized Rockwall as an important heritage site in 1979.
Today, Rockwall is privately owned. It stands as a wonderful example of an early colonial villa. Its story shows how Sydney has grown and changed over time.
What Rockwall Looks Like
The House's Design
Rockwall was built between 1831 and 1837. It's a two-storey house designed in the Colonial Regency style. It's made of sandstone blocks with beautiful cedar wood inside.
The house has five sections (bays) and a verandah (a covered porch) that wraps around the ground floor. This verandah has columns, giving the house a classic Regency look.
Inside, the house has at least four bedrooms and four bathrooms. It also has large rooms for entertaining guests, like an elegant sitting room and a grand dining room, both with original marble fireplaces. The lower level has rooms made of sandstone blocks, including a servants' kitchen, a wine cellar, and even a "dungeon"! There are also stories about a secret underground passage.
The Gardens and Grounds
The original land grant in 1828 was huge, over 8 acres (about 3.2 hectares). The gardens once stretched all the way to Macleay Street. An old painting from around 1840 shows the gardens with a circular driveway, shrubs, and those tall Norfolk Island pines.
Even though much of the land has been sold off and new buildings have been built nearby, Rockwall still has beautiful landscaped gardens. It has trees along Rockwall Crescent, a lawn on the western side, and a large Chinese elm tree. Rockwall Crescent is a quiet street today.
Why Rockwall is Important
Rockwall was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. It's considered important for several reasons:
- History: It tells us about the early days of Sydney and how grand homes were built.
- Beauty: It's a beautiful example of architect John Verge's work.
- Rarity: It's one of the very few early villas left in Potts Point.
- Connections: It's linked to important figures like John Busby, who helped provide water for Sydney.
